Improvement in earth-excavators



JOHN W. MYERS, OF LYONS, IOWA.

Lettere Patent Ne. 108,723, aerea oeteber 25, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN EARTH-EXCAVATORS.

The Schedule referred to these Letters Patent and making part of thesame I, JOHN W. MYERS, of Lyons, Clinton county, State of Iowa, haveinvented certain improvements .in Earth-Excavators, of 'which thefollowing is a` spec. ification.

My invention relates to a novel combination oflevers withthe plunger ofa hollow or tubular spade or excavator, for digging post-holes, Ste.,the object of my invention being to facilitate the discharge of earthfrom the instrument.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my machine. Figure 2 is a verticalsection, showing the operation of theplungerand levers.

In drawing, same letters refer to same parts.

General Description.

A is the handle or shaft of the machine. B is a lever, attached byanelbow-joint to the lever C, to operate the plunger G..

' D is the arm of the plunger, working in the handle A.

E is an arm, to hold the end of the lever (l, F F ll are spring-arms',to hold the spades. G is the cone-shaped plunger. II H H are the spades.J, a pin to attach the lever B to when raised up. KK shows the slitsoropenings between the spades. N, the ring or socket on the end of thehandle or shaft A. To this socket is attached the arms F F F.

Construction and Operation.

I construct the spades of any suitable material, usually of steel, butin largemachines I use chilledl cast-iron. The other parts I make of anymaterial that will answer the purpose. l f To operate the machine, if asmall one, grasp the handle or shaft A, and raise the machine in aperpendicular manner and let it descend upon the earth; its Weight willforce the spades into the ground.

The lower or cutting-edge of thespades are beveled from the inside, andas lthe spades enter the ground the earth is compressed within thespades, the arms of the spades springing out as the earthis forced in,and the air in the oone-shaped plunger is com-v pressed within the cone.Then raise the machine and move it to the place where the earth iswanted, take the lever B from pin-J and move it out, as indicated bydotted lines iu g. 2, it acting on lever C by means of the elbow-joint,and as it is forced down theplnnger. G is forced down, carrying with itthe earth held inv place by the spades. Now by raising the lever B tothe pin J again, the plunger G is raised vup in place to use the machineagain.

The compressed air in the cone-shaped plunger aids i in forcing theearth out.

I design this machine to be made any size desired.-

When used for wells, o r when large bodies of earth are to be moved, Iuse horse or steam-powerto raise and lower the machine.

' The plunger G ismade to tthe curve of the spades, and acts as ascraper, to keep the same clean. When large machines are used I put ontwo springarms to each spade to give greater strength, enabling themachine to retain larger quantities of earth;

The combination, in the manner herein set forth, of the central plungerG, with the inclosing spades I-I H H, and with the levers E G B, foroperating the same. p

JOHNV WV. MYERS.

Witnesses:

W. W. SANBORN,

